Automatic gas lighting and extinguishing apparatus



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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

N. H. SHAW. AUTOMATIC GAS LIGHTING AND EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS. No.393,525. Patented Nov. 27, 1888.

I A I I, 1 JIIHII I (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

N. H. SHAW.

AUTOMATIC GAS LIGHTING AND EXTINGUISHING' APPARATUS. No. 893,525. APatented Nov. 27, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHANIEL H. SHAW', OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THEAMERICAN AUTOMATIC GAS LIGHTING COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

AUTOMATIC GAS LIGHTING AND EXTlNGUlSHlNG APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent. No. 393,525, datedNovember 27. 1888.

Serial No. 261,641. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL H. SHAW, of Somerville, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Automatic Gas Lighting and ExtinguishingApparatus, of which the following, taken in connection with theaccoi'npanying drawings, is a specifi' cation.

The object of this invention is to provide for street lamps and the likeautomatic gas lighting and extinguishing apparatus operated on eachindividual lamp by a local battery mounted upon or directly connectedwith the lamp-post, in distinction from a system of connected lightsoperated mechanically by an attendant at a distant station throughconductingwires uniting. the entire series. Besides the battery, burner,and supporting lamp post I employ a clock mechanism adapted to turn onand shut off the gas at the proper time and to actuate the electrodes toproduce the gaslighting spark at the .same moment. I furnish a closedcase to contain the battery clock-work and other mechanism, and maysupply it with a visible dial and hands to constitute it a publictime-piece illuminated by the burner. The electrode actuated by theclock-work is represented as rotary in its movement, coinciding withthat of the gascock. The rotary electrode is prefer ably two-pronged, soas to give two distinct sparks.

The several features of my present invention are hereinafter fully setforth, and especially referred to in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front view of the apparatus applied to anordinary gas-lamp post, the door of the case being shown open and partlybroken away. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 shows inperspective the burner, electrodes, and operating devices.

The case A, inclosing the apparatus, is secured upon the lamp-post B byclamps O or other suitable fastenings, the parts being so shaped as tofit the post at a point near the gasburner, where the apparatus is lessliable to be tampered with and the dial (if used) is more conspicuous.By preference I use clamps of U form, the threaded extremities enteringthrough the back of the case and engaging with nuts therein. The casehas a close-fitting door, D, made dust and storm proof to protect themechanism. a substantial lock, the key of which is held by the weeklyattendant.

The case A contains an eight-day clock mechanism, E, of usualconstruction, and

It is furnished with above it, at F, a mechanism in general like thealarm apparatus of alarm clocksthat is, one remaining dormant until aspecified time, then actuated for a moment by a coiled spring andgearing, and again becoming dormant.

In my device this apparatus is actuated twice 6 each dayat dusk to turnon the gas and light it by a spark generated by revolving the electrode,and at dawn to shut off the gas and bring the electrode again intooperative position.

I have not thought it necessary to explain in detail the arrangement ofthis spring and gearing, as I make no present claim to this part of themechanism shown, but propose to use any suitable combination of partsfor this 7 5 the burner, is provided with a bulb and rotary cock, H, thestem I of which is coupled to or driven by one of the gears of the trainF. This train has an intermittent motion received from its spring, andit serves to give a partial rotation to said stem sufficient merely toopen the gas-cock at the instant when the regulator has released thetrain F, and the motion is suspended before the cock has turned farenough to shut off the gas. r

The stem I of the gas-cock has a bevel-gear, 5

J, meshing with a pinion, K, at the foot of a revolving electrode, L,which is properly insulated and mounted in bearing-arms M, fixed to thegas-pipe P. The upper end of the electrode L is offset at asuitableangle, so thatits extremity describes a small circle as it revolves.This offset part is preferably forked ICC about as shown. Adjoining thisrevolving electrode is a non-rotary one, N, insulated and supported uponthe same arms, M, and terminating at the top in a spring-coil andfinger, O,with which the two prongs of the electrode L successivelyengage to make and break the electrical circuit twice, and thus toproduce two electric sparks at a point immediately above the burner andat the instant when the gas has been permitted to flow therefrom. Thetwo prongs and double action of the eleetrode L are for greater securityin lighting in case the first spark should be premature.

The bevel-gear J has twice as many teeth as the pinion K, which mesheswith it, so that when the stem I and gear J make a quarter- .rcvolution,turning on or shutting off the gas, the electrode L makes half arevolution; and hence as the gascock opens with each of its ownhalfrevolutions the electrode has at each opening of the cock made acomplete rotation and come into position to produce the spark bybreaking connection with the springclcctrode N.

Q, is a movable clutch or coupling, which serves to connect ordisconnect at will the stem I from the shaft of the gear-wheel in thetrain F,which drives it. 3y thissimple means the gas operating devicescan be disconnected during a series of moonlight nights, if desired,without disturbing the clock mechanism.

R represents two cells of the local battery, and S a wire coil with itssoft-iron core, the battery and coil being located in separateeompartments within the case A and properly connected electrically witheach other and the electrodes L N by the wires T U V. By this apparatus,supplied to each individual lamp, an electric spark is produced whenevercontact of the electrodes L and N is made and broken. This occurs, asstated, whenever the cock H is given half a rotation and the electrode La complete one. Such rotation is effected automatically, as explained,by the appropriate mechanism F, actuated like the clock by a coiledspring, wound once a week by an attendant. I

X represents a portion of the dial, and Y the hands with which the clockmay be furnished, while the door has a glass panel, Z, in order to makethe apparatus useful as a timepiece. The face being so near the burnerwill be illuminated therefrom, or a reflector may be suitably placed tothrow abundant light upon it.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with a gas burning lamp, ofa-local battery therefor and a time mechanism for turning the gas on andoff and for lighting the same, substantially as set forth.

2. A gas-burning lamp and a time mechanism for automatically turning onthe gas at a predetermined moment, in combination with a local batteryand movable electrodes for producing an electric spark when the gas isturned on, for the purpose set forth.

3. A gas'burning lamp having its gas-cock actuated by a time mechanism,in combination with a similarly-actuated rotary electrode, andanon-rotary clcctrodeserving to make and break electrical connectionabove the burner when the gas is turned on, and with a local battery forgenerating an electric current, for the purpose set forth.

at. A gas-burning lamp having a rotary gascock with a gear-wheel on itsaxis, in combination with a rotary electrode provided with a pinionmeshing with said gear-wheel, a nonrotary electrode, and a local batterymounted on the standard of said lamp, for the purpose set forth.

A hollow lamp-post having within it a gas-pipe wit-h a terminal burnerand furnished with a cock and with a time mechanism, in combination witha battery mounted on said post and with a rotary electrode and anonrotary yielding electrode arranged to make and break electricalconnection at a point immediately above the burner, for the purpose setforth.

(5. The combination of the gas-pipe, burner, and rotary cock, with theelectric battery and the rotary and non rotary electrodes, and with atime mechanism, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a gas-pipe, burner, and automatica]ly-actuated gascock, with the electrode N, and the two pronged electrode L, and anelectrical battery, substantially as set forth.

8. The case A, formed with a close-fitting door and with one or morepartitions dividing its interior into separate chambers, in combinationwith a train of time mechanism and with a battery and spark-coiloccupying said chambers, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of a clock mechanism, a gas-cock-operating mechanism,and a battery and electricspark apparatus operated by said clockmechanism, all contained in a case adapted to be secured upon the postof the lamp to be lighted, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination of the clock mechanism E, and the train of gearingF, within the case A, with the rotating gas-cock and electrode, and withasuitable coupling, Q, for connecting or disconnecting said parts,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, inthepresence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 17th day of January,A. D. 1888.

NATHANIEL II. .SHAVV.

\Vitnesses:

A. H. SPENCER, FRANK T. BENNER.

